Florida’s Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) are a varied collection of public and private lands, managed and overseen by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Many include tracts of private homes and leased hunting lands, but all allow some access by the public. The Steinhatchee Springs WMA is a narrow, 20,000+ acre parcel stretching …

From the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: ” All Gulf Reef Fish Anglers are required to sign up for the Gulf Reef Fish Survey. By signing up to participate in the Gulf Reef Fish Survey, you are improving recreational data for several reef fish species such as red snapper and gag. The process is easy, no-cost and will …

On May 1, 2016, the individual bag limit for redfish (red drum) will drop from 2 fish to 1 fish on Florida’s Big Bend (Pasco County to the Alabama line). The FWC’s Northwest Zone is affected, as shown on the map below: Red drum, also called redfish, channel bass, spottail, red bass or reds, are …

Located near downtown Lake City, the Lewis D. Whitacre shooting range is a free and open to the public. It offers covered 25, 50 and 200 yard target ranges for rifles and pistols, as well as an archery range with a high stand. The range is open during daylight hours, but may be closed …

Governor Scott and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced Floridians and visitors will be able to fish without a saltwater recreational fishing license on June 7 and 8 and freshwater recreational fishing license on June 14 and 15. Governor Scott said, “Florida is the Fishing Capital of the World, and fishing is an …

Anglers and boaters headed to Cedar Key are sometimes put off by the crowds at the downtown boat basin. Yes, they’re closer to the Gulf of Mexico, and there’s an inside and an outside ramp. If you use the inside ramp, you’ll be in the shallow boat basin and if your boat has a T-top …

If you’re heading out to fish (or hunt) in our Natural North Florida region, you’ll likely need a license. That’s especially true if you’re not a Florida resident. Florida’s rules can be complicated, so here’s a quick look at the basics, thanks to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Who needs a recreational …

Do you have ideas about how Florida’s marine fisheries should be managed? The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wants to hear from you. Whether you are a seafood aficionado who wants priority placed on getting fish to the dinner plate, a recreational fisher who prefers to catch and release or a commercial fisher …

The “Bay Scallop Abundance Survey” results from Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is always wildly-anticipated by folks hoping to catch their limit of these tasty bivalves during the summer harvest. The 2015 season begins on June 27 and ends on September 25. There’s plenty of information about the “how-to” of gathering your own …